Flamenco Music Artist
Ricardo de Cristóbal
Photo: Flamenco – Guitarist
Ricardo de Cristóbal is a master Flamenco guitarist and Flamenco historian with over 50 years experience in his art. He was a guitarist of several years experience when a visit to The Spaghetti Factory, a San Francisco restaurant, and a flamenco show featuring Flamenco singer and dancer Isa Mura and flamenco guitarist Federico Mejía dramatically introduced him to the world of Flamenco. A vivid Flamenco experience led to the immediate acquisition of a Flamenco guitar, and the first steps in an intense love of Flamenco.
Ricardo began his studies in Flamenco guitar in San Francisco by sitting at the juerga table in the bar at La Bodega, trying to copy any guitarist who came by. Niño Bernardo was often there, accompanying every singer, dancer, or guitarist who happened to drop in, then playing solo beautifully. Bernardo’s flexibility, creativity, and “in the moment” style was inspirational. Ricardo also emulated the playing of guitarist Melchor de Marchena in recordings made with singers Antonio Mairena and Manolo Caracol. Several years later Ricardo met Cristóbal Dos Santos, a protégé of the renowned Diego del Gastor.
Diego was the creator and central figure in the style of Moron de la Frontera, an improvisational way of creating continuing variations on evolving themes. Ricardo’s experiences studying cante and baile accompaniment as well as solo Flamenco guitar with Cristóbal further shaped his approach to creating music.
Ricardo worked with Flamenco dancers La Linda and La Canela and Flamenco singer El Quijote before becoming primary accompanist to Flamenco singer Carlitos de Santa Cruz. Carlitos gave Ricardo an education in spontaneous accompaniment of spontaneous singing, as well as deep knowledge of Flamenco's heart and soul.
In listening to Ricardo you will hear not only the influences of Diego, Cristóbal, and Carlitos, but also echoes of many great Flamenco guitarists from Ramon Montoya to Paco de Lucía. The burning aire of Melchor is everywhere and Ricardo’s Flamenco heart bleeds through everything he plays. You will find Ricardo performing at a variety of venues throughout the greater Phoenix area, as well as for many private functions. In addition to performance of traditional styles of Flamenco, Ricardo composes original music in a fusion of Flamenco, classical and jazz styles. Ricardo reads music when necessary, but prefers to learn, teach, and compose by ear and eye.
Ricardo began his studies in Flamenco guitar in San Francisco by sitting at the juerga table in the bar at La Bodega, trying to copy any guitarist who came by. Niño Bernardo was often there, accompanying every singer, dancer, or guitarist who happened to drop in, then playing solo beautifully. Bernardo’s flexibility, creativity, and “in the moment” style was inspirational. Ricardo also emulated the playing of guitarist Melchor de Marchena in recordings made with singers Antonio Mairena and Manolo Caracol. Several years later Ricardo met Cristóbal Dos Santos, a protégé of the renowned Diego del Gastor.
Diego was the creator and central figure in the style of Moron de la Frontera, an improvisational way of creating continuing variations on evolving themes. Ricardo’s experiences studying cante and baile accompaniment as well as solo Flamenco guitar with Cristóbal further shaped his approach to creating music.
Ricardo worked with Flamenco dancers La Linda and La Canela and Flamenco singer El Quijote before becoming primary accompanist to Flamenco singer Carlitos de Santa Cruz. Carlitos gave Ricardo an education in spontaneous accompaniment of spontaneous singing, as well as deep knowledge of Flamenco's heart and soul.
In listening to Ricardo you will hear not only the influences of Diego, Cristóbal, and Carlitos, but also echoes of many great Flamenco guitarists from Ramon Montoya to Paco de Lucía. The burning aire of Melchor is everywhere and Ricardo’s Flamenco heart bleeds through everything he plays. You will find Ricardo performing at a variety of venues throughout the greater Phoenix area, as well as for many private functions. In addition to performance of traditional styles of Flamenco, Ricardo composes original music in a fusion of Flamenco, classical and jazz styles. Ricardo reads music when necessary, but prefers to learn, teach, and compose by ear and eye.
Ricardo de Cristóbal and Flamenco dancer/wife Linda Machado (Un Corazón Flamenco) are the only Flamenco artists in the State of Arizona recognized by the Arizona Commission on the Arts* to teach and present Flamenco in both the Community and Educational tracks.
*The Arizona Commission on the Arts Teaching Artist Roster identifies and promotes high quality artists who maintain active careers as teaching and professional artists, and have particular expertise in collaborating with communities and schools to engage individuals in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts. The Roster is a juried, panel-approved compendium of Arizona artists representing all artistic disciplines. The Education-Based Roster is a roster of artists available to provide arts learning programs to students and teachers in pre-K-12 settings.
*The Arizona Commission on the Arts Teaching Artist Roster identifies and promotes high quality artists who maintain active careers as teaching and professional artists, and have particular expertise in collaborating with communities and schools to engage individuals in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts. The Roster is a juried, panel-approved compendium of Arizona artists representing all artistic disciplines. The Education-Based Roster is a roster of artists available to provide arts learning programs to students and teachers in pre-K-12 settings.
